After nearly a century-and-a-half of acting as a non-profit organisation amusing millions of viewers, readers and subscribers, the longtime standard-bearer of environmental journalism is becoming a profit enterprise; writes Ameera Fouad
Under the name “National Geographic Partners”, a board of equal members from both the National Geographic and 21st Century Fox will end the non-profit enterprise that has been running since 1888.
This step comes as a major slap to all the long-time, endearing magazine readers who crave nature information and are loyal to the globally renowned and celebrated magazine.
The deal is set as Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox is expanding its ownership of National Geographic properties to a 73 per cent majority stake in a $725 million deal. The National Geographic Society will own the remaining 27 per cent as a minority shareholder.
But who will preside as chairman of the board? So far reports indicate that no change is likely to happen, and that current president and CEO Gary Knell will be the board’s first chairman.
Likely the most important question for the readers and viewers is; what will be the impact of this deal on the magazine and the channel itself? Will the quality differ? Will it be a real profitable enterprise? And how does National Geographic plan on staying just as committed to science, exploration and education as they were before?
Knell assured the press last week that National Geographic will not be giving up its non-profit status. What is going to happen is that the National Geographic Society will stay as a non-profit, and as part of this transaction, it will be massively bulked up in its resources to invest in science, exploration and education.
He also added that the deal would actually give the print product a longer lifeline. The print industry in general is seeing a rapid decline due to the takeover of digital media and mobile platforms.
Knell assured that for nearly 20 years, there has never been a moment of editorial interference in Nat Geo by Fox. That is more in line with shows like “Cosmos” or “The Years of Living Dangerously,” which is a huge show on climate change that aired globally on the National Geographic international channels.
“We’re connecting a cover story in the magazine in November around climate change to an Explorer’s show on the channel in November around climate change, so people are going to have to judge us by what we do, not what’s said about us,” added Mr. Knell.
